Quality Gateway
Programme Approval
When wanting to bring a new programme onboard as a degree apprenticeship, there are a few questions you need to ask:
- Is there an approved Apprenticeship Standard for this subject area?
- Is there an existing programme that would meet the academic learning for this standard?
If the answer to 1 is yes, then you can start to think about a programme that would meet the requirements of the approved Apprenticeship Standard.
If the answer to 2 is yes, and you’d like to adapt this programme to become a degree apprenticeship programme, you can follow the normal route for revalidation. You will also need to work with the Degree Apprenticeships Oversight Committee, so you should contact the Head of Apprenticeships.
A note on revalidating an existing programme to become a degree apprenticeship programme:
You will need to determine whether all the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) can be met through your existing programme as it stands, or whether there is a need for major or minor modifications to the programme and its aims and learning outcomes, the credit structure of the modules and the assessments incorporated within the programme. The programme must also fit the brief of a degree apprenticeship, where the focus is upon learning in the workplace in order to facilitate the acquisition and application of KSBs. You may decide you need to replace modules with new ones that focus on work-based learning, reflective practice and/or research projects in order to reflect the diversity of outcomes required in a degree apprenticeship.
If the answer is no to question 2 above, then you can follow the normal programme approval process, but there are a number of areas you will want to consider as you develop your programme. The Degree Apprenticeships Office will work with you on this.
We would also recommend that for your validation event, when nominating external panel members, you consider both academic and practice-based experience.
